Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [13]
Twisting away, Katy replied. “No. Dad said he was going to ask me to the skating party this afternoon.”
“How would he know that?”
Katy shrugged. “I have no idea. The grapevine, I guess.”
“The elders’ grapevine,” Lil added another dig. “But he didn’t ask you yet?”
Katy shook her head. “You think I need to go flirt with him or something?”
Lil suddenly grinned. “I’d like to see that happen.”
Lil’s taunting attitude raised Katy’s hackles again. She wasn’t afraid to flirt with a guy. Katy just hadn’t been interested in anyone since Jake. And she loved to prove Lil wrong. Slanting a brow, Katy scooted her chair back.
Lil clapped her hand over her spreading smile.
During their conversation, Katy had kept tabs on David, scoping the situation. He’d been watching her, too. In fact, he’d smiled once when their gazes had met. Now he loitered by the trash can, the sole of one shoe propped against the wall’s baseboard. Her pulse raced with indecision.
David swiped a hand through brown hair that fell neatly back in place—shiny hair a lot of girls would envy—then took a swig of soda pop. Trying to act cool, she thought. Normally, the idea that he intentionally waited for her to dump her trash so he could pounce on her would be pathetic enough to make her leave the table empty-handed. But under the circumstances, she decided to put him out of his misery.
She set her shoulders and maneuvered through the crowded room, lifting her plate once to avoid a rowdy child. She reached the gray plastic can and plopped her trash in its black liner. Casually, she stepped aside and allowed her gaze to rest on David. “Oh hi,” she said.
“Hi, Katy. Good food, huh?” Even though his trim physique was hidden beneath his plain brown suit jacket, overeating didn’t seem to be a problem for him.
“Yes. But you’re used to that. Your mom’s a good cook.”
His hazel gaze darted to the table of casseroles and empty platters. “What about you? Do you like to cook?”
“I can cook, but being friends with Lil, I’d rather not compete in that area. I guess that’s why I like to do housekeeping. A girl wants to shine someplace.” That was a stupid pun, she thought.
He grinned. “I like that about you. You’re considerate.”
Feeling the light-headed zap that follows an untruth, Katy studied the ground.
“Modest, too,” he said.
“No I’m not.” She raised her chin. “I’m not as good as everyone thinks.”
She didn’t know why it bothered her so much today. She wanted to be good. Still, it hurt when Lil called her inflexible or old-fashioned. The paradox confused her. One thing was certain: David didn’t suspect her ulterior motives and didn’t deserve them, either. She felt herself shrinking back from her dad’s plan.
He quirked an eyebrow. She allowed herself to study his pleasantly angular face. He gave her a confident grin, but not presumptuous. “I better not go there. You going to the skating party this afternoon?”
She swallowed. She absolutely wouldn’t go through with this.
“If you are, can I take you?”
His eyes pleaded and twinkled at the same time. He widened his smile, and his cheek creased on the left side of his mouth. She’d never noticed he had dimples. And he really was a nice guy. And a great skater. But she had no intentions of stringing him along, doddy house or not. So much rested on her decision. Finally she determined, she’d go with him, but at the first opportunity, she would tell him about her dad’s deal.
“Sure.”
His shoulders relaxed a tad. “Great. How about three o’clock?”
“Perfect. But you’d better wear knee pads and a helmet. I’m not that good.”
“There you go again. I’ve been watching you, Katy. I know if you can skate or not. You make a pretty picture on the ice.”
A spurt of pleasure surprised her. “Thanks, David.”
She glanced around and saw that the crowd was starting to disperse. “Guess folks are leaving. I need to put something on the bulletin board before they lock up. See